USU names new Athletic Director
LOGAN, Utah — Air power is on its way to Utah State University with the former athletic director from the Air Force Academy being named to head up its athletic program, announced President Kermit L. Hall during a news conference Friday.
Air Force Colonel Randall W. Spetman, who begins work July 1, said he and his wife, Becky, are thrilled for the opportunity to come to Utah State.
“There is a great deal of pride, not just at Utah State, but among the entire community,” Spetman said. “It is fun for Becky and me to see how we can be part of that and what will come with the move into the Western Athletic Conference. There are going to be very good times at Utah State, and the support for our athletic programs will grow exponentially.”
Hall said Spetman draws from deep wells of experience and understanding and a wide range of skills and abilities that will serve Utah State University well during this important transition period in its athletic program.
“In Randy Spetman we have a new athletic director committed to the success of our student athletes, both academically and athletically,” Hall said. “We wanted an individual who knew football, understood athletics in the West, could work with our fine coaching staff, was respected for integrity and character,Tbelieved in academic success, and who could help build an increasing base of private support. We found that person in Randy and his best supporter and one of future great fans, Becky.”
He praised the search committee, saying it had excellent leadership under Ken White, a faculty member who has garnered worldwide attention for his animal research and who is Utah StateÃs National Collegiate Athletic Association faculty representative.
“The search committee exercised fidelity to its charge,” he said. “My thanks goes to each of them for a job well done.”
Spetman said he is impressed by the university’s dedicated staff in the athletic department, which includes several relatively long-term coaching staff, including gymnastics coach Ray Corn and basketball coach Stew Morrill, and others who are at Utah State and want to remain here.
“When you have staff like that in place, it helps build on reputation,” he said.
A major reason for accepting the offer to come to Utah State, he said, is its emphasis on academics and the way it believes in its student athletes. He said the universityÃs 10th highest graduation rate in the nation among its student athletes is evidence of its commitment.
Over the next six months, Spetman said he plans to get to know the students, athletes and staff. He will also devote time to meet with alumni and donors in Utah and across the nation. “I want to help them understand where the program is going.”
This will include building five-year strategic and business plans for the athletic program to be distributed among the president, staff, students and administration. He said itÃs a plan that will most likely see continued emphasis on improving football facilities, including locker room expansions and a sports medicine area. “We need a strong football presence when we move into the WAC,” he said. “We want to make sure we have a first-class facility.”
He said he’s pleased that renovation and improvements are already under way at Romney Stadium. It establishes interest and momentum among university and community fans. He said he is impressed with the community support and would like to expand stadium use to involve even more community members.
Spetman said entrance into the WAC brings new energy and spark to athletics at Utah State. He said he is looking forward to being able to compete in this historically significant conference.
He looks forward to continuing his rivalries against Mountain West teams as well, such as the University of Utah and Brigham Young. “The WAC has to be able to compete against the Mountain West and to be a top conference if it wants to compete in a Bowl Championship Series,” he said.
While at the Air Force Academy, Spetman”s influence went full circle. As the only military athletic director in the nation at the Division I level, Spetman was the first athletic director to have been an athlete and a coach at the Academy.
A 1976 graduate, Spetman’s competitive spirit and warrior-like attitude earned him three letters in football. The team co-captain as a senior, he also captured the heavyweight Wing Open Boxing Championship twice.
After receiving his commission, he served as an assistant football coach at the Academy in 1977 under legendary coach Ben Martin.
Originally from Council Bluffs, Iowa, Spetman assumed his duties as athletic director at the Academy in 1996. He administered the schoolÃs 27-sport intercollegiate program as well as the physical education and intramural programs.
While there, Spetman directed a major building addition, the first in 30 years, that included a new weight room, training room, locker rooms and administrative offices.
Spetman’s military career has taken him around the world and in a variety of positions. A command pilot with more than 3,000 hours of flight time, Spetman’s range of positions has taken him from assistant football coach to a pilot and from the Chief of Bomber Planning in Desert Shield and Desert Storm to serving as Chief, Command and Control Division, Operations Directorate at the U.S. European Command in Stuttgart, Germany.
A graduate from Squadron Officer School, he attended the National War College and earned a masterÃs degree in National Security Strategy. Spetman also holds a master’s in management and supervision from Central Michigan University.
He was a member of the Mountain West Conference Championship Committee, Handbook Committee and Television Committee. He was also the third vice president of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics.
He and his wife, the former Rebecca Luhring of Des Moines, Iowa, are the parents of two children, Brian and Kim.
Spetman replaces Rance Pugmire who resigned in April.